Jain Gazette 1920 06

Author(s): Jagnanderlal Jaini, Ajit Prasada, C S Mallinath Jain
Publisher: Jaina Gazette Office

Page 23

THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
133
as citizens of this great Empire to foster the political friendship between the two countries and to see that every word and action of yours tends to strengthen this union even when you feel bound most emphatically to differ from the British Statesmen in certain particulars. Remember that the worst consequence of a blunder means no more than the loss of a country to England, but for you it might mean anything up to extinction out and out. Reconstruction and Co-operation must be your watch-word in politics for this reason. Above all the attempt to force a decision with the show of force-especially with the show of impotent furce is the worst kind of move in politics, for it provokes retaliation which under the sanction of authority is likely to out-Herod Herod in frightfulness. As for Social Reform, the most important thing to know is that unless you raise the status of your women all your best efforts in that direction are bound to fail. You have just simply to glance roud to be convinced of the fact that wherever feminine influence is not allowed to soften the hearts of the sterner sex there civilisation is either totally conspicuous by its absence or is of a type that is scarcely distinguishable from savagery and barbarism. The woman is intended by nature to be a real companion to man in life, and if she is not, you must raise her up to that level. You must, therefore, set your hearts against the purdah system and early marriage both, as they are opposed to female progress, and should do all you can to educate your sisters and daughters. Your reward will be the sweetening of your home life in due course of time.
With regard to religious reform, the most deplorable feature of the thing is that people have generally no idea of what religion means. You who have been educated in a Jaina institution know that religion is a Science, and as such above reform. One might as well talk of reforming physics or mathematics. The only place where reform is needed in religion is in the language of mysticism which says one thing and means another. Your duty here also is clear: to re-establish the scientific truth as taught by the Tira thamkaras and to dispel the ignorance of others. As for the nonJainas, I think they would willingly accept the scientific explanation of Jainism if they only understood their own creeds. The study of comparative religion will prove to be of the utmost value in the ascertainment of truth, and you should popularise it as